comments

The reason why Nell has to die is because she is an innocent. The characters of The Old Curiosity Shop are highly allegorical. Quilp represents all that is evil. He is powerful and is able to nearly rule the world. Nell represents all that is innocent and good. She cannot survive in a world that allows Quilp to thrive, and what's more is we don't WANT her to live in that world. It is better for her to die and remain pure than to lose the innocence that makes her character so vulnerable and lovable.

I think the writer in describing, the death of Little Nell in uncertain terms has tried to glorify death and put forward the theory of people dying young ,whom God loves the most.This goes along with the axioms of Christianity which are not in vogue now.The character of the grandfather of little Nell is the perfect antidote to her character.Howver, the author has failed to understand the metaphors of Kit explaining the death of Nell to his kids and the references to his kids who have been given names as per some characters visited by us in the novel.